Mizzima: Children fell ill after UN

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Children fell ill after UNICEF Vitamin
By Our Correspondent
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Guwahati, Nov. 14: Over 10,000 children in various parts of Assam fell
ill after consuming doses of an anti-blindness drug in a special
programme conducted by the state government on Monday. The children,
aged between one to six, were given ?concentrated Vitamin A solution IP
85?, supplied by UNICEF to 25 lakh children in a bid to eradicate
blindness across the state. In various districts, children having taken
the vitamin complained of vomiting and stomach pain.
Meanwhile the state health department has withdrawn remaining quantities
of the drug throughout the state. Addressing a press conference, the
State Health Minister Dr Bhumidhor Barman stated: ?We have sent a sample
of the Vitamin A solution for chemical analysis.? He revealed
furthermore that the incident could have been caused by the consumption
of an overdose of the vitamin. The Health Minister explained that,
though the prescribed dose was 2ml, the children were reportedly given
5ml. An investigation into the incident is under way. Assam has been
gripped by a panic in the wake of the incident as adequate medical
treatment is in shortage, especially in remote areas. According to the
Health Minister, however, medical staff have been sent to various places
across the state and the situation is ?under control?.
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<center><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+2>Children fell ill after UNICEF
Vitamin</font></font></center>
<p><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>By Our Correspondent</font></font></i>
<br><i><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)</font></font></i>
<p><font size=+1><b><font color="#FF0000">Guwahati, Nov. 14: </font></b>Over
10,000 children in various parts of Assam fell ill after consuming doses
of an anti-blindness drug in a special programme conducted by the state
government on Monday. The children, aged between one to six, were given
?concentrated Vitamin A solution IP 85?, supplied by UNICEF to 25 lakh
children in a bid to eradicate blindness across the state. In various districts,
children having taken the vitamin complained of vomiting and stomach pain.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Meanwhile the state health department has withdrawn remaining
quantities of the drug throughout the state. Addressing a press conference,
the State Health Minister Dr Bhumidhor Barman stated: ?We have sent a sample
of the Vitamin A solution for chemical analysis.?&nbsp; He revealed furthermore
that the incident could have been caused by the consumption of an overdose
of the vitamin. The Health Minister explained that, though the prescribed
dose was 2ml, the children were reportedly given 5ml.&nbsp; An investigation
into the incident is under way.&nbsp; Assam has been gripped by a panic
in the wake of the incident as adequate medical treatment is in shortage,
especially in remote areas.&nbsp; According to the Health Minister, however,
medical staff have been sent to various places across the state and the
situation is ?under control?.</font>
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